Indianapolis - A man was shot and killed as he reportedly tried to rob an apartment on the near north side Sunday afternoon.

Metro police officers responded to a report of a person shot at an apartment building at 1503 N. Pennsylvania Street around 4 p.m. Sunday. When they arrived, they found an unidentified male lying in the third floor hallway with multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene.

The 24-year-old shooter told police he and his girlfriend were helping another friend move into an apartment when they were approached by the shooting victim, who was asking for change for a five dollar bill. One of the men said they had change in the apartment.

As they walked into the building, the shooting victim pulled out a gun and ordered everyone into the back room. The shooter said he feared for their lives, so while walking to the back area of the apartment, he pulled out a gun he was carrying, turned and fired at the would be robber. It is unknown if the shooting victim fired any shots.

Police say the shooter had a permit to carry a handgun. He and the two other victims of the apparent attempted robbery were taken in for interviews and to give statements to police. No arrests have been made at this time.

"It appears, based on preliminary information, to have been a case of self-defense," IMPD Sgt. Matt Mount wrote in a release.

The would-be robber has not yet been identified, but police say he was wearing an ankle bracelet consistent with those issued for home detention.

The Federal Government has no constitutional authority to regulate firearms. How then have all these federal laws been passed and enforced? What about all the new laws that are always hanging over the heads of tens of millions of peaceful gun owners?